Cindy McCain spoke about her husband at the GOP convention Thursday night.

St. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) - Cindy McCain praised her husband, Republican presidential nominee John McCain, as "someone of unusual strength and character" in a speech to the Republican National Convention on Thursday.

"You can trust his hand at the wheel," she said, adding: "But you know what - I've always thought it's a good idea to have a woman's hand on the wheel as well. So how about Gov. Sarah Palin!" Delegates erupted in cheers at the mention of McCain's running mate, the governor of Alaska.

Cindy McCain said her husband's run for the White House "is not about us. It's about our special and exceptional country."

She called Americans the most generous people in history, and said "our hearts are still alive with hope and belief in our individual ability to make things right if only the federal government would get itself under control and out of our way," prompting cheers from the delegates.